By Staff Writer | Wajir Today | Thursday, 18 September 2025

Wajir town has kicked off an ambitious environmental initiative aimed at tackling plastic pollution. For eight consecutive days, youth groups, local community leaders, and partners are rolling up their sleeves to sweep away plastic waste under a campaign dubbed “Wajir Bila Plastic.”

The campaign, spearheaded by Islamic Relief Kenya’s Wajir field office, seeks not only to beautify the town but also to tackle deeper environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste.

Speaking during the launch, Ms. Nimo Adan, a representative from Islamic Relief Kenya, said the initiative brings together diverse voices with a shared vision for a cleaner and healthier town.

“The objective of the campaign is to improve the town’s hygiene,” she explained. “We brought together youth groups from five locations, and we are joined by various stakeholders from different departments. The goal is to curb plastic pollution in the town. We have just commenced our eight-day campaign.”

The programme has drawn in 10 youth groups from five wards across Wajir town, who are leading the charge by collecting plastic bags and other non-biodegradable waste scattered across streets and marketplaces.

Their efforts are already attracting public attention, not only for the physical transformation of the environment but also for the sense of civic pride it is creating among residents.

For community elders like Omar Tanicha of Barwaqo Ward, the clean-up goes beyond appearances; it is about safeguarding livelihoods.

“We appreciate Islamic Relief Kenya for organizing this clean-up campaign today,” Tanicha said. “As we all know, hygiene is number one in everything in life. Today we are cleaning the town, especially collecting plastic waste. We have inherited problems from plastic waste, including loss of livestock.”

The reality he points out is a familiar one in pastoralist regions such as Wajir. Polythene bags, often left scattered in open areas, are swallowed by animals, leading to illness or death. This has had economic consequences for households who depend on livestock for survival.

The campaign is also backed by the Wajir Municipality, which sees it as complementing ongoing efforts to improve the town’s image and livability.

Municipality Manager Omar Shano noted that the partnership was a timely boost to the town’s beautification drive.

“Two months ago, we started a campaign to improve the aesthetic appearance of our town. Today, with support from Islamic Relief and in collaboration with the County Government of Wajir, we are doing a clean-up campaign,” he said.

He added that public hygiene should not be left to the county government alone, urging more organisations and individuals to get involved.

“Public hygiene is not the responsibility of the county government only. We are all stakeholders. We thank Islamic Relief Kenya for supporting this initiative, and we ask other organisations to join us so that we can improve public hygiene status.”

As teams of young people armed with gloves and sacks move across neighbourhoods collecting plastic waste, the campaign is also raising public awareness.

Passersby, shopkeepers, and families are being reminded that small actions  from disposing of waste responsibly to reducing reliance on single-use plastics  can collectively transform the town’s environment.

Beyond the immediate clean-up, the campaign is expected to leave a lasting impact by sparking dialogue about sustainable waste management and responsible living.

Residents are optimistic that it will encourage long-term behavioural change, with households, businesses, and local authorities all playing a role.

Wajir Bila Plastic is more than just a public hygiene drive. It is a campaign to confront a modern environmental challenge. If the enthusiasm witnessed on the first days is anything to go by, the initiative may very well mark the beginning of a cleaner, greener, and more liveable Wajir town.